World

American Apparel Founder Dov Charney Tries Again

Dov Charney, former American Apparel CEO, alleged sexual harasser, and serial self-fondler, is staging a comeback.

After being ousted from his own company, American Apparel, back in 2014 after turning over $500 million in stock options into dismal bankruptcy following the numerous sexual harassment allegations made against him by his employees, Charney is relying on his new brand, Los Angeles Apparel, to resurrect and return him to his former, pervy glory.

His brand–which was conceptualized in 2016–is a “continuum of American Apparel,” Charney describes in an interview in the Guardian, and is starting off in wholesale much like its now-defunct predecessor. Currently, the clothes are only available for purchase in bulk, and as Charney is focusing on perfecting the fit of basics like t-shirts, shorts, skirts, and hoodies.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Charney has stated that he is currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor in the factory in which the clothes are being produced. Although initially applauded for his wild unpredictability, brash personality, and creative thinking, Charney later garnered innumerable criticisms due to an infamous, expository piece written by journalist Claudine Ko, in which Charney admitted to sleeping with his employees, some as young as 19 years old. If it weren’t already creepy enough, Charney’s creative direction for American Apparel’s ads drew comparisons to “kiddie porn”, with photos even surfacing of Charney himself standing in underwear flanked by an employee wearing next-to-nothing.

Now, after his messy lawsuits and checkered reputation have begun to simmer down, when asked by Guardian reporter, Hadley Freeman, if he’s still sleeping with employees after all that’s happened, “That’s private! Sleeping with people you work with is UNAVOIDABLE!” Charney asserts.

Is it just me or did the room suddenly get cold? Because I’m shivering.